Patent attributes
Provided is a method of producing polyarylene sulfide at low cost while productivity enhancement and resource saving are attempted by avoiding the use of a complicated step and special apparatus (facility). The method of producing polyarylene sulfide according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a preparation step of preparing a mixture containing an organic amide solvent, a sulfur source, a dihalo aromatic compound, and an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount less than an equimolar amount relative to an amount of the sulfur source; a first-stage polymerization step of initiating a polymerization reaction by heating the mixture, and producing a prepolymer having a dihalo aromatic compound conversion ratio of 50% or greater; and a second-stage polymerization step of adding an alkali metal hydroxide such that the alkali metal hydroxide is in an amount of 1.00 to 1.10 mol per 1 mol of the sulfur source, and continuing the polymerization reaction in a homogeneous liquid phase condition.
